Hi, Gary, et. al. Bruce and JR are right on about it all. Films were chopped a lot-- and they were, of course, ALL in black and white and there wasn't even a notion of letterboxing until recent years. We had wonderful stuff on tv for kids in the afternoons. A local station got hold of the Buster Crabbe/Flash Gordon serials. I just loved them-- particularly the old cars and trucks. Even then the "special effects" seemed cheesy but I loved them anyway. And we saw, first in the "kiddy-show" theatre and then on tv as well, the re-vamped talkies of "Our Gang"-- which became "The Little Rascals" for those re-releases and tv packages. They were so hysterically funny-- and still are! I think that's where I got my affinity for the depression-era kids and their raggedy clothes and "Aw, gee" manner of speech. And interestingly, the fact that black and white kids went to school and played together in these films, was ignored by theatre owners that would never have played a mainstream film that showed the same thing. I guess they thought it was "harmless." But I noticed that then. Perhaps it was the beginnings of my seeing through the hypocrisy of racism in my "homeland"-- the American South. (And why I have no tolerance for it today-- from either side!!!) Funny thing, though. I collect various things-- mostly lobbies-- from that era featuring those kids, but haven't got a thing from either the original "Our Gang" or later "Little Rascals" series. Maybe one of these days. Joe-
> > From: Bruce Carteron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2005/03/11 Fri PM 01:13:26 EST > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [MOPO] Television Movies > > Hi Gary & Mopo members: No - it was horrible! Lots of commercial breaks, > they cut scenes, bad prints (a million cue marks on every reel change) - but > it was where I first fell in love with old movies. I remember staying up > late to watch "Shock Theater" which showed the old Universal monster & > horror movies - and was "shocked" to see the local weatherman dressed up > like Dracula to introduce the films! Another famous incident - our local > station ran overtime with two many commercials - and cut the ending of > "Citizen Kane" which revealed what "Rosebud" was! I remember when South > Dakota got its first local television station (not until the late 50's) and > all they could afford were some cheap Columbia Pictures packages - but that > was great, because I got to see the "Whistler" and "Boston Blackie", really > old Buck Jones films and very early "talkies". The cartoons they ran were > old Felix the Cat and Oswald the Rabbit and they showed the silent "Our > Gang" comedies. Of course we got the early syndicated TV shows too (no > network at first) like "Whirlybirds", "Highway Patrol" ("10-4! 10-4!"), "Sea > Hunt", "Jungle Jim" and "You Bet Your Life". > When I finally got to see classic films in the theater - I was blown away. > Totally entranced. I really don't understand why people don't like Black & > White - it was mesmerizing! I was totally absorbed by "On the Waterfront" > "Kane" (with the ending!), classic Bogart, Cagney, Flynn. So it was a mixed > blessing - got to see a lot of early, rare and classic stuff - but not very > well presented. - Bruce > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 10:42 AM > Subject: [MOPO] Television Movies > > > > Does anyone even watch movies on regular television anymore? With all of > > the > > commercials, editing for content, and format to screen - what's the point? > > > > Was this always the practice? Or, did you get to see full unedited films > > back > > in the 50's and 60's? > > > > Curious Question. > > > > Regards, > > Gary > > > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > > > > Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > > > > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > > > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > > Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
